Editing Benton, Pennsylvania

{{short description|Borough in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Benton, Pennsylvania
| native_name = 
| other_name = 
| settlement_type = [[Borough (Pennsylvania)|Borough]]
| image_skyline = Benton, Pennsylvania.JPG
| imagesize = 
| image_caption = View north on [[Pennsylvania Route 487|PA 487]] in Benton in October 2012
| image_flag = 
| flag_size = 
| image_seal = 
| seal_size = 
| image_shield = 
| shield_size = 
| image_blank_emblem = Benton, PA Keystone Marker.jpg
| blank_emblem_type = Keystone Marker
| blank_emblem_size = 250px
| blank_emblem_alt = 
| blank_emblem_link = Keystone Markers
| nickname = 
| motto = <!-- images and maps ----------->
| image_map = File:Columbia County Pennsylvania Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Benton Highlighted.svg
| mapsize = 150px
| map_caption = Location of Benton in [[Columbia County, Pennsylvania]] (left) and of Columbia County in [[Pennsylvania]] (right)
| image_map1 = Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Columbia County.svg
| mapsize1 = 175px
| map_caption1 = Map showing Columbia County in Pennsylvania
| pushpin_map = Pennsylvania#USA
| pushpin_label_position = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_mapsize = <!-- Location ------------------>
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Benton in Pennsylvania
| coordinates = {{coord|41|11|46|N|76|23|00|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = United States
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Pennsylvania|County]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Pennsylvania]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Columbia]]
| established_title = Settled
| established_date = 1833
| established_title1 = Incorporated
| established_date1 = 1894
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type = Borough Council
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = George Remphrey
| leader_title1 = 
| leader_name1 = 
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_footnotes = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='42'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 12, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude = 
| area_total_km2 = 1.59
| area_total_sq_mi = 0.61
| area_land_km2 = 1.55
| area_land_sq_mi = 0.60
| area_water_km2 = 0.05
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.02
| area_water_percent = 
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m = 
| elevation_ft = 765
| population_total = 823
| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
| population_density_km2 = 532.32
| population_density_sq_mi = 1378.56
| population_est = 
| pop_est_as_of = 
| pop_est_footnotes = 
| population_note = 
| postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code = 17814
| area_code = [[Area code 570|570]]
| website = <!--{{URL|www.bentonboro.com}} inactive 12/7/2020-->
| footnotes = 
| image_dot_map = 
| dot_mapsize = 
| dot_map_caption = 
| dot_x = 
| dot_y = 
| pushpin_label = Benton
| leader_title2 = 
| leader_name2 = 
| leader_title3 = 
| leader_name3 = 
| leader_title4 = 
| leader_name4 = 
| timezone = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset = -5
| timezone_DST = EDT
| utc_offset_DST = -4
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 42-05680
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 1215122
}}
'''Benton''' is a [[borough (Pennsylvania)|borough]] in [[Columbia County, Pennsylvania]], United States. It is part of [[Northeastern Pennsylvania]]. The population was 824 at the 2020 census.<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021">{{cite web |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020—2021 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |website=Census.gov |publisher=US Census Bureau |access-date=July 28, 2022}}</ref> It is part of the [[Bloomsburg-Berwick micropolitan area]].

==Geography==
[[File:Benton, Pennsylvania.PNG|thumb|Aerial view of Benton]]
Benton is located in northern Columbia County at {{coord|41|11|46|N|76|23|0|W|type:city}} (41.196144, -76.383354).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> It is surrounded by [[Benton Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Benton Township]], a separate municipality. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the borough has a total area of {{convert|1.59|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{Convert|1.55|sqkm|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.05|sqkm|order=flip|2}}, or 2.96%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4205680| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Benton borough, Pennsylvania| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| accessdate=May 19, 2015| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213082552/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4205680| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Fishing Creek (North Branch Susquehanna River)|Fishing Creek]], a south-flowing tributary of the [[Susquehanna River]], runs through the eastern part of Benton.

==History==
The Benton area was first settled by two families in 1792. A schoolhouse was opened in 1799. Starting around 1860, tanning and lumber industries began to grow north of the borough. By 1868, Benton had about fifty houses. In the year of 1910, Benton was destroyed by a fire. Two teenagers lit firecrackers in a hay barn, which caught fire and caused over sixty buildings to burn, as the town did not yet have a water system.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/07/when-most-of-town-of-benton-was.html|title = Valley Girl News}}</ref> As a result, the Benton Dam was built in 1915. However, this was not the end of Benton's disasters. Another fire struck just one year later destroying more houses. Again in 1962, a fire ripped through the town, destroying the distillery and its warehouse containing over 17,000 bottles of whiskey. In 2011, Benton was also devastated by a flood. And on April 15, 2019, an EF2 tornado touched down in Benton, damaging nine trailers and up to 50 homes and businesses.[https://data.ydr.com/tornado-archive/pennsylvania/818330/#:~:text=Summary,length%20of%20approximately%204%20miles.] Despite its various adversities and disasters, Benton continues to thrive.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://itourcolumbiamontour.com/places-to-go/benton-area/|title = Columbia Montour Visitors Bureau}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bentonnews.net/History.htm|title = Bentonnews.net}}</ref>

==Transportation==
'''State highways'''. Two highways [[Concurrency (road)|concurrently]] serve as Benton's Main Street:
*[[Pennsylvania Route 239]] leads east {{convert|14|mi}} to [[U.S. Route 11|US 11]] at [[Shickshinny, Pennsylvania|Shickshinny]] on the Susquehanna River and northwest {{convert|13|mi}} to [[Pennsylvania Route 42|PA 42]] at [[Franklin Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania|North Mountain]].
*[[Pennsylvania Route 487]] leads north {{Convert|13|mi}} to [[Ricketts Glen State Park]] and south {{convert|17|mi}} to [[Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania|Bloomsburg]], the Columbia County seat.
[[File:Main Street in Benton, Columbia County, Pennsylvania.JPG|thumb|left|Main Street (Pennsylvania Routes 239/487) in Benton, looking north]]

'''Interstate highway''':
Benton is 14 miles north of [[Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania|Interstate 80]].

'''Air''': Although [[Williamsport Regional Airport]] ([[International Air Transport Association airport code|IATA]]: IPT) is the closest airport with scheduled airline service, travelers often seek out the lower fares at [[Trenton–Mercer Airport]] (IATA: TTN) or [[Philadelphia International Airport]] (IATA: PHL).

'''Rail''': From 1888 to 1972, Benton was served by the [[Bloomsburg and Sullivan Railroad]], which was later the [[Reading Company|Reading Railroad]]'s Bloomsburg branch.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1880= 191
|1900= 635
|1910= 719
|1920= 696
|1930= 733
|1940= 786
|1950= 890
|1960= 981
|1970= 1027
|1980= 981
|1990= 958
|2000= 955
|2010= 824
|2020= 824
|estyear=2021
|estimate=824
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
|footnote=Sources:<ref name="USDecennialCensus">{{cite web|title=Census of Population and Housing|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=11 December 2013}}</ref><ref name="GR2" /><ref name=CensusPopEst>{{cite web|title=Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|work=Population Estimates|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=11 December 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611010502/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|archivedate=11 June 2013}}</ref><ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}</ref><ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:42&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=Oct 12, 2022}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 955 people, 394 households, and 265 families residing in the borough. The population density was {{convert|1,503.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 436 housing units at an average density of {{convert|686.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the borough was 99.69% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.10% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], and 0.21% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.10% of the population.

There were 394 households, out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 25.9% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $27,986, and the median income for a family was $32,125. Males had a median income of $28,015 versus $20,625 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the borough was $12,831. About 15.2% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 29.0% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
Benton is part of the [[Benton Area School District]],<!--UNI 03390-->.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st42_pa/schooldistrict_maps/c42037_columbia/DC20SD_C42037.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Columbia County, PA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-12-13}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st42_pa/schooldistrict_maps/c42037_columbia/DC20SD_C42037_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> which contains two schools: L.R. Appleman Elementary School (K-6), and [[Benton Middle-Senior High School]] (7-12). There are 24 colleges within 50 miles of Benton Borough [https://www.collegesimply.com/colleges-near/pennsylvania/benton/]. The nearest college with over 2000 students is the [[Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania]]<ref name="Citydata">{{cite web|url = http://www.citydata.com/city/Benton-Pennsylvania.html|title = Benton, Pennsylvania|year = 2012|accessdate = 20 October 2012}}</ref> at a distance of 13.4 miles. The top rated college near Benton is [[Bucknell University]].

==References==
{{Commons category|Benton, Columbia County, Pennsylvania}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
<!--*{{official|http://www.bentonboro.com}} inactive 12/7/2020-->

{{Columbia County, Pennsylvania}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places established in 1793]]
[[Category:Bloomsburg–Berwick metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Boroughs in Columbia County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:1833 establishments in Pennsylvania]]